My list (a lot of repeats):
VIDEO GAMES:
TAILS > SONIC: Everybody's really explained why already: just as fast as Sonic and can fly. I'd like to also add that in Tails' levels in Sonic Adventure, the point of the level is often to beat Sonic to the end of the level. AND IT'S PRETTY EASY TO DO THAT.
DONALD & GOOFY > SORA: In a way, I feel kind of bad. These two were cartoon stars long ago, and now, they're hanging out with this kid from nowhere.

Moreso, I award this to Goofy for using his shield as a weapon.
RYDIA & EDGE > CECIL: Cecil wasn't a fun character in Final Fantasy 4. I can see why he'd be moody, but the side characters were more fun. I really enjoyed using these two, though. A sword is nice, but being able to throw shurikens, summon Bahamut, or cast a magical biohazard on enemies seems nicer.
A LOT OF CHARACTERS FROM FIRE EMBLEM > THE LORDS: For Blazing Sword, for example, I like Hector and Lyn. Not so much Eliwood. But the story line keeps them from advancing too quickly in Level. By the time I get to promote my lords, I don't really need them. Oh, you have a horse now, Eliwood? And you can use Spears along with Swords now? Well, Sain rode a horse for like 30 chapters before this point, and now he can use any weapon he bloody wants to use besides bows, and you want me to be impressed? C'mon, Swordmaster Guy. C'mon, Druid Canas. C'mon, Bishop Serra. C'mon, Falcoknight Fiora. We're hitting the pub.
MOVIES AND CARTOONS:
HERMIONE GRANGER > HARRY POTTER: Hermione may start off as a whiny goody-goody when we first see her, but not too long after that, she becomes the badass of the series with some of the strongest magical power and technique.
IZZY > TAI & MATT (Digimon: Digital Monsters): This is how I came up with "badass" as the appropriate way to describe Hermione, because Izzy is kind of in the same boat. Most of the characters at first just kinda fumble their way through the Digital World. Once he realizes that it's a world of computer data, Izzy actually manages to hack into it on multiple occasions. As a result, he can maps and Digimon bios pretty much at will.
TOPH > AANG (Avatar: The Last Airbender): I do like Aang, but Toph is definitely my favorite character for being a 12-year-old blind girl who can flatten you easily by Earthbending. She does proclaim herself to be the greatest Earthbender in the world, and that's hard to argue against when she eventually breaks a previously-established rule of the series.